The student, who studies on the college’s 14-to-16 engage course, has only been training in the sport for 18 months and this is his first experience of competitive fights.

Rhys trained four days a week at Durham’s Unity Gym in preparation and said he is looking forward to more fights in the future. “These were my first real fights outside of the gym and I certainly wasn’t expecting to come away with the title,” said Rhys.

“But once I got through my semi-final I knew there was a chance that I could go on and win the final. “I’m over the moon and really proud of my achievement. I can’t wait to go on to my next fight which will hopefully be in the next couple of months.”